A defense official has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in all cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The wider defence environment highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
